Victorian Justice
Stella K. You will explore the justice system, its criminals, and its punishments. How did the society attempt to solve its social problems in its justice system? What were the prisons like? How were the debtors treated?
Summary
During the 18th and 19th century the level of punishment were pretty harsh. Many people were killed consequently for the littlest crime. This angered many citizens so when Queen Victoria got in control, she had lessened the harsh death punishment. With punishment changing, it also led to new laws made to prevent insignificant crimes to be charged with death. Also back in the Victorian times, the prosecutors and judges had more power in the court. The prosecutor accused the defendant. The defendant had to prove themselves innocent in order to be proven innocent. Usually the accusation the commitment of crime were to be turned in by private individuals. The prosecutors usually won the trial rather than the defendant.This had changed in the Victorian period, polices were made to enforce stricter rules. But, after people moved to the larger areas, the crime rate increased drastically. So, instead of having polices arresting criminals like today, private citizens brought the matter to court. There are two different types of jury; the petit and the grand jury. The grand jury would decide for sure the case winner. Grand jury were consists of merchants, professionals, wealthier tradesmen and artisans. The prisoners were mostly mentally ill people because the mentally ill people went to prison. Also, the prisoners had hard labor. The debtors were sent to prison and had to stay until their debts were paid off.
Visual
Punishments
Work Cited :
"19th Century justice - Victorian Crime and Punishment." Victorian Crime and Punishment from E2BN. Web. 23 Feb. 2010. <http://vcp.e2bn.org/justice>.
Stella K.
You will explore the justice system, its criminals, and its punishments. How did the society attempt to solve its social problems in its justice system? What were the prisons like? How were the debtors treated?
Summary
During the 18th and 19th century the level of punishment were pretty harsh. Many people were killed consequently for the littlest crime. This angered many citizens so when Queen Victoria got in control, she had lessened the harsh death punishment. With punishment changing, it also led to new laws made to prevent insignificant crimes to be charged with death. Also back in the Victorian times, the prosecutors and judges had more power in the court. The prosecutor accused the defendant. The defendant had to prove themselves innocent in order to be proven innocent. Usually the accusation the commitment of crime were to be turned in by private individuals. The prosecutors usually won the trial rather than the defendant.This had changed in the Victorian period, polices were made to enforce stricter rules. But, after people moved to the larger areas, the crime rate increased drastically. So, instead of having polices arresting criminals like today, private citizens brought the matter to court. There are two different types of jury; the petit and the grand jury. The grand jury would decide for sure the case winner. Grand jury were consists of merchants, professionals, wealthier tradesmen and artisans. The prisoners were mostly mentally ill people because the mentally ill people went to prison. Also, the prisoners had hard labor. The debtors were sent to prison and had to stay until their debts were paid off.
Visual
Punishments
Work Cited :
"19th Century justice - Victorian Crime and Punishment." Victorian Crime and Punishment from E2BN. Web. 23 Feb. 2010. <http://vcp.e2bn.org/justice>.
"Victorian Period - A Time of Change." Books & Literature Classics. Web. 23 Feb. 2010.
<http://classiclit.about.com/od/victorianliteratu/a/aa_victorian.htm>.
"BBC NEWS | UK | Rough justice - Victorian style." BBC NEWS | News Front Page. Web. 23 Feb. 2010. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8181192.stm>.